Boltless slushing scraper



15mm 6, E97@ J. M. MCKEAN 3,487,881

BOLTLESS SLUSHING SCRAPER Filed OCT.. ll, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Ffa. I.,

Jan. 6, l970 J. M. MCKEAN BoLTLEss sLUsHING scRAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. ll, 1965 FIG.

United States Patent O 3,487,881 i BOLTLESS SLUSHING SCRAPE .lohn M. McKean, San Clemente, Calif., assignor to Vulcan-Denver Corporation, Englewood, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,482 Int. Cl. EtlZf 3/60; B25g 3/36; E04b 1/58 US. Cl. 172-265 9 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A slushing scraper wherein the principal elements thereof include a bucket body and a pair of identical bail members arranged in assembled relationship and thereby so interlocked as to be held in assembly by a pair of simple keys.

This invention relates to mining buckets known as drag line Scrapers, and to mining situations such as cut and ll operations, sublevel development work and all types of mining Where ore is broken into chunks, and in some instances nally divided, and requires transport; it being a general object of this invention to provide a scraper of necessarily rugged construction for use in mine operations of the character referred to while excluding from the scraper construction all of the usual bolted connections and replacing the same with self interlocking engagement between the principal elements of the scraper construction.

For example, reconstruction and maintenance of drag line Scrapers is an ever present problem in conducting mining operations; not only from a pure mechanical point of view having to do with assembly and reassembly, but also from the access or accommodation point of view. That is, under subterranean conditions space and good working conditions are most often diicult to nd, and diiculties which often arise in the assembly and maintenance of the usual mechanical constructions require tools and the services of expert persons skilled in the art of employing said tools to effect assembly and repairs and the like. Heretofore, constructions which are bolted together have been the cause Vof time losses and considerable expense applied toward repairs, and in many cases complete removal of the scraper from service because of damage to the bolted connections which has caused disassembly and replacement of parts to be made diicult, if not impossible at subterranean environments. 'It is easily understandable that the misalignment of bolted connections as caused by continued applicationof lstress and strain resulting in bent and/ or permanently deflected parts leads to disassembly and `reassembly diculties. Also, a decided disadvantage of bolted or pivot pinconnections in equipment of the type under consideration is that wear takes place and looseness develops,"and which is almost aways an eventuality, whereupon the effective digging angle of the bucket or scraper'is adversely affected, That is, the digging angle of the scraper 'is an important factor that must be maintained and not permitted to' deviate.

In View of the aforementioned problems, it is an object of this invention to provideaslushing scraper assembled without bolts or the like and which comprisesself interlocking principal elements that register in coupled inexible working positions relative to each other.

It is another object of this inventio'nto provide a scraper comprising a main body and a harness and wherein fthe harness is locked rigidly to the body by meansof permanently immovable configurations in the body and harness respectively, whereby the pulling forces imposed through the harness are transmitted directly into the body, entirely without resort to intermediate parts of fasteners.

It is still another object lof this invention to provide 3,487,881 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 a scraper comprising a body and harness combination wherein the interconnection of said body and harness is recessed and thereby protected from danger and/ or loosening. With the structure to be described, the harness elements are recessed at their connection to the body, and the same is true of the joining together of the harness into a drag line connection for the scraper, and in this respect it is an object to provide a scraper of the character thus far referred to that is secured in its assembled condition by means of fastening the harness together at the drag line connection. As will be apparent, said drag line connection is the natural pull point from which the forces applied tend to pull the harness and body combination together.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is rmade to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a slushing scraper embodying the invention, showing it in the position in which it normally occurs during drag line operation.

FIG. 2 is a plan View taken as indicated by line 22 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a enlarged detailed sectional View taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view illustrating the boltless construction of the scraper in its assembly condition and taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the mode of assembly of the boltless scraper construction according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated -by line 6 6 of FIG. l

The drag line scraper that will now be described is a boltless slushing scraper, in that it is constructed virtually without the use of bolts or any like fastener. However, attention is directed to the drag line connection which employs keys that are operative to Wedge the elements into a tightly assembled condition. In carrying out die invention it is the exclusion of a bolt type fasteners which is practiced, and with the resulting elimination of threaded connections which so often become inoperative even when but slightly damaged. More particularly, the scraper of the invention is characterized by principal elements which are readily manipulated into assembled position and whereupon they are stressed by the application of the above mentioned keys, to thereby present a tight assembly of rigidly inter-connected parts and virtually devoid of looseness.

The boltless scraper construction that I provide involves, generally, a bucket `body A, a harness B, and a drag line connection C. It is these three general elements which are combined without the use of bolts and it is the bucket body A which is self interlocked with the harness B and rigidly combined upon the application of stress in bringing together the harness B with the drag line connection C.

The body A is the main principal element of the scraper and it is the part which determines the general size, shape ard capacity of the scraper. As it is illustrated it involves. generally, a bottom 10 a back 11 that joins the rear edge portion of the bottom and projects upwardly therefrom, a rider bar 12 that adjoins the top edge portion of the back and projects forwardly therefrom, and sides 13. The bottom 10 mayV be a substantially flat plate-like element or part that is angularly disposed, as is shown in the drawings when the scraper is in a normal operating positon, The back 11 of the body is integrally joined to the rear edge of the bottom 10 at a corner 15. The rider bar 12 of the body is integrally joined to the top edge of the back 11 at a corner 16, thereby presenting a forwardly projecting guard that serves to retain material in the bucket body A and to cause lifting of the scraper when it becomes filled, and the rider bar 12 being integral with the sides 13 as well as with the back 11. As shown, the sides 13 of the body A may be fiat vertically disposed plate-like parts joined to and extending forwardly from the bottom 10, back 11 and rider bar 12.

In accordance with the invention the sides 13 are formed so as to hingedly receive and keep the harness B which comprises generally a pair of like or identical bails to be later described. Said bails are separately applicable to the body A and to this end the opposite sides 13 are each provided with an opening 20 to receive the rear end portion of a bail and with guide means 30 to direct the forward extensibility of the bail. In practice, each opposite side is like or identical and comprises a vertically disposed wall of substantial thickness the opening 20 being located at or above the corner 15 and at or below the corner 16, and at or near the back 11. The opening 20 is of a vertical extent to just freely pass the vertical extent of the bail and it is of a longitudinal extent to just freely pass the thickness, or transverse extent of the rear end portion of the bail. The bail is normally of rectangular cross-section in which case the opening 20 is also rectangular, having spaced and parallel opposed shoulders 21 and 22 and having spaced and parallel opposed top and bottom seats 23 and 24. For all practical purposes as later described, the shoulders 21 and 22 and seats 24 and 24 are flat and in planes normal to the faces of sides 13. However, it is preferred that the rearmost shoulder 22 be convexedly rounded from the inside face of side 13 and faired into the outside face thereof, for permitting rearward swinging movement of the bail and as is required in order to effect assembly of the body A and harness B.

The guide means 30 that is provided to direct the forward extensibility of the bail can vary in form and is shown as comprised of two separately operable structures. Primarily, since it is highly desirable to protect parts by avoiding protrusions etc., the =bail is recessed into the side 13 and is guided between spaced parallel and opposed rails 31 and 32. In practice, the rails 31 and 32 are continuations of the top and bottom seats 23 and 24 respectively, being disposed in the same planes as said respective seats. Thus, the vertical extent of the bail is just freely received between and so as to be guided by said rails. Secondarily, since extreme durability is most desirable, the bail bears against the body A through its engagement with the guide means 30 and is engaged against shoulders 3S formed in the rails 31 and/or 32 at or near the forward edge of the side 13. Like the shoulders 21 and 22, the shoulders 35 are in a plane normal to the side 13 and are opposed by convexedly curved shoulders 36 that fair into the exterior of the side. It is a feature that the rails 31 and 32 are at the exterior of the side 13 and extend forwardly from the opening 20, and thereby placing the shoulder 21 immediately adjacent to the exterior face of the side 13 while the rails in veffect establish a recess adapted to receive the rear end portion of the bail.

The harness B is secondary to the main -body element A and in acordance with the invention it involves two like and preferably identical bails 40 that are received in the openings 20 at opposite sides 13 of the bucket body and that are guided rigidly with the body by the guide means 30. As is clearly shown, the harness B extends forwardly from the bucket body A and from the sides 13, in a plane intermediate the corners and 16. The exact angular relationship of the harness B to the bucket body A is an important factor and particularly the angular relationship `of the harness to the cutting edge 25 of the betteln .lt- The said cutting edge is semprsed Q f replaceable cutters as is indicated and which are rigidly affixed to the bucket body at exactly predetermined angles, it being understood that the cutter design and selected cutter angles can Vary as :circumstances require. And, lwith the importance of cutter angle in mind it becomes apparent that fixation of the harness B to the bucket body A is critical, and in accordance with the invention the bails 40 are received in the openings 20 and they are embraced by the guide means 30 through hinged engagement with the sides 13, so that when the said bails are brought together with the drag line connection C a solid interlocking of the elements A and B is effected.

The bails 40 can be identical, that is exactly alike and this is preferred to avoid the necessity of producing and stocking right and left hand members, each bail being an elongate arm-like structu-re. As is shown, the bail is of uniform rectangular cross-section, having inner and outer side faces 41 and 42, and top and bottom edges 43 and 44, said faces and edges being normally related and extended parallel with respect to each other. Each bail 40 is adapted to lie flat against the side 13 and extends straight forward, and is bent and/or turned so as to extend to a drag point at the center of and forwardly of the bucket body. To these ends the said face 41 is directly engaged with the side 13, while the top and bottom edges 43 and 44 are directly engaged with the rails 31 and 32, it being a simple matter to manufacture these features so as to have a substantially close fit. Therefore, when the elements a-re arranged in working position the rails of the guide means 30 fix the angular relationship as required.

In accordance with the invention I hingedly relate the harness bails 40 to the bucket body A and keep them attached to the body by providing releasible hinges 45. the hinge 45 involves a post 46 and tongue 47 formed integral with and as the rear portion of the bail. In practice, the post 46 and tongue 47 are continuations of each other and of the bail itself, having top and bottom edges 48 and 49 in the planes of the edges 43 and 44, respectively. The post 46 is shaped to have bearing engagement in the opening 20 while being f-ree to articulate therein so as to permit swinging movement of the bail 40, and to these ends the post has a bearing 50 disposed to engage on the shoulder 21 and it has a reclined back wall 51 disposed to clear the shoulder 22. The bearing S0 is right angularly -related to the inside face 41 of the bail and is formed to be coextensive with the area of the shoulder 21; while the back wall 51 is chamfered and extends from the inside edge of said slide 13 at shoulder 22 to the outside face 42 of the bail. In practice, the wall 51 is reclined forwardly at 24.

The tongue 41 is shaped to have interlocked engagement with the side 13 when the bail 40 is in working position and is characteristically offset to engage with the inner face of the side 13. To this end, the tongue 47 projects rearwardly from the inner end of the post 46 and has a fiat face 52 that is spaced from and parallel to the inner side 41 of the bail, and positioned to engage the inner face of side -13 when the bail is arranged in working position. In order to permit swinging movement of the bail, and because the attachment of the tongue to the post requires body -or thickness, the tongue 47 is characteriged by an inclined front wall 53 that adjoins the bearing 50 and extends therefrom to the inner side of the tongue. In'practice, ythe wall 53 is inclined at 36. It is 4the reclination of wall 51 and the inclination of wall 53 which together produces a diagonal post 46 configuration extended between the bail and its rearwardly projectin'g' and inwardly offset locking tongue. Further, the abovefdescribed diagonal p0st46 configuration and Iradiused shoulder 22 permits the articulation required of the hinge '45, during insertion of the tongue 47 through the opening 20 for reception of the post 46 with its bearing 50 engaged on the shoulder 21 and with the edges 48 and 49 positioned on the seats 23 and 24 respectively. The assembly neeessitates swinging movement about the hinge 45 and the back wall 51 has a camming action as it cooperatively engages the shoulder 22 and which assures movement of the post 46 and consequent placecent of the bearing 50 in engagement with the shoulder 51.

Having manipulated the principal elements A and B into an assembly of parts as shown and above described, the foremost end portions of the bails are fastened together thereby conditioning the assembly for use. To this end the drag line connection C is provided and which stresses the bails 4t) in bringing them together at a support engaging shoe 60. In its preferred form the connection C involves a separate element incorporating therein the shoe 60 and oppositely divergent bail receiving channels 61. The shoe 60 is centrally located and depends from the connection, while the channels 61 diverge rearwardly from a drag line eye 62. Suitable return line eyes 63 are provided at the rear of the 'bucket body A, as shown. Like the connection of the bails 40 to the sides 13, the channels 61 open laterally to receive the arm-like bails and guide them between upper and lower rails 64 and 65. In accordance with the invention, the key or keys 70 are provided for making the connection with the two bails, said keys being wedge shaped members that are driven into place so as to engage with and pull the bails together, thereby stressing them tightly against the sides 13. In the preferred arrangement the body of the connection C has an opening 69 laterally into the channel 61 and adapted to slideably receive an ear 68 projecting inwardly from the inside 42 of the bail. The ear has a bore 67 that is offset from aligned bores 66 in the connection body, said bores being related as shown to receive the wedge-shaped key 70. The bores are suitably enlarged in opposite lateral directions so as to permit the ear to be pulled inwardly when the key 70 is driven into place. Further, the key is bifurcated and peened over for its retension upon tightening of the assembly through said driven engagement thereof.

In addition to the primary structure of the guide means 30 and connection C in receiving and aligning the bails 4i), the bails are provided with bearing lugs 75 to bear upon the shoulders 3S and with bearing lugs 76 to bear on like shoulders 77 formed in the body of the connection C. As is shown, the lugs 75 and 76 project from the top and bottom edges 22 and 23 of the bail so as to present bearings for hat engagement with the shoulders 35 and 77. Thus, there is adequate shouldered engagement directly between the principal parts and without pulling forces through the keys 70, there boing no bolts or other like fasteners. p

From the foregoing description it will be seen that this slushing scraper is assembled and the parts thereof made replaceable all without resort to the use of bolts and like fasteners which are ordinarily employed. With the present invention the interrelated and cooperatively engaged parts are so fashioned as to establish a fixedly related combination of structural elements, all without resort to multiple fastener application. That is, the engagement together of the principal elements establishes rigidity which cannot be lost, and the entire assembly is preferably stressed to some degree at least, by driving into place the wedge shaped key or keys and which are deformed for retainment. As a result, the bails of the harness are pulled into tight engagement in the connection C and to tight engagement with the sides 13, all looseness being eliminated from the scraper assembly.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a boltless slushing scraper wherein the principal elements are arranged in assembled relationship and there- `by nterlocked;

(a) a bucket body having a laterally extending inclined bottom with a forwardly disposed. cutting edge therealong and having opposite sides extending vertically forwardly from the bottom, there being an opening through each side and each opening presenting a directly rearwardly faced shoulder and an opposed chamfered shoulder;

(b) a harness comprised of a pair of identical bails and each hinged to a side of the bucket body by means of a post projecting inwardly to occupy the opening and having a directly forwardly faced bearing shoulder engaging the rearwardly faced shoulder of the opening and having a reclined back wall clearing the chamfered shoulder of the opening in the side, there being a tongue projecting rearwardly from the post to engage the inside of the respective side of the bucket body rearwardly of said opening;

(c) and means to draw the foremost ends of the bails together at a drag line connection, thereby engaging the bails with said opposite sides and to engage the posts in the openings and to maintain the tongues inside the bucket body;

(d) said assembly being accomplished by insertion of the tongues laterally through the openings followed by forward swinging motion of the bails to bring them together for nterlocked engagement with the bucket body. i

2. In a boltless slushing scraper wherein the principal elements are arranged in assembled relationship and thereby nterlocked:

(a) a bucket body having a laterally extending inclined bottom with a forwardly disposed cutting edge therealong and having opposite sides extending vertically from the bottom, there being an opening through each side and each opening presenting a directly rearwardly faced shoulder and an opposed chamfered shoulder, and spaced opposed guide rails extending forwardly from said opening;

(b) a harness comprised of a pair of identical bails and each bail having top and bottom edges engaged with said opposed guide rails when said bail is engaged against the side of the bucket body and hinged to a side of the bucket body by means of a post projecting inwardly to occupy the opening and having a directly forwardly faced bearing shoulder engaging the rearwardly faced shoulder of and having a reclined back wall clearing the chamfered shoulder of the opening in the side, there being a tongue projecting rearwardly from the post to enter through the opening and bear upon the inside of the side rearward of said opening in the Abucket body and having an inclined wall clearing said rearwardly faced shoulder;

(c) and means to draw the foremost ends of the bails together at a drag line connection., thereby engaging the bails with said opposite sides and to engage the posts in the openings and to maintain the tongues inside the bucket body;

(d) said assemly being accomplished by insertion of the tongues laterally through the openings followed by forward swinging motion of the bails to bring them together for nterlocked engagement with the bucket body.

3. In a boltless slushing scraper wherein the principal elements are arranged in assembled relationship and thereby nterlocked:

(a) a bucket body having a laterally extending inclined bottom with a forwardly disposed cutting edge therealong and having opposite sides extending vertically from the bottom, there being an opening through each side;

(b) a harness comprised of a pair of like bails and each hinged to a side of the bucket body by means of a post projecting inwardly and occupying the opening in the side, there being a tongue projecting rearwardly 7 from the post to engage the inside of the bucket body;

(c) and means comprising a shoe interposed between the foremost ends of the bails and having rearwardly divergent channels to receive the foremost ends of the bails and ybored to receive keys engaged with the balls respectively so as to draw the foremost ends of the bails together at a drag line connection, thereby engaging the bails with said opposite sides and to engage the posts in the openings and to maintain the tongues inside the bucket body;

(d) said assembly being accomplished by insertion of the tongues laterally through the openings followed by forward swinging motion of the bails to bring them together for interlocked engagement with the bucket body.

`4. In a boltless slushing scraper wherein the principal elements are arranged in assembled relationship and thereby interlocked:

(a) a bucket body having a laterally extending inclined bottom with a forwardly disposed cutting edge therealong and having opposite sides extending vertically from the bottom there being an opening through each side;

(b) a harness comprised of a pair of identical bails and each hinged to a side of the bucket body by means of a post projecting inwardly and occupying the opening in the side, there being a tongue projecting rearwardly from the post to engage the inside of the bucket body;

(c) land means comprising a shoe interposed between the foremost ends of the bails and -bored to receive a pair of wedge-shaped keys engaged with the bails respectively to draw the foremost ends of the bails together at a drag line connection, thereby engaging the bails with said opposite sides and to engage the posts the openings and to maintain the tongues inside the bucket body;

(d) said assembly being accomplished by insertion of the tongues laterally through the openings followed by forward swinging motion of the bails to bring them together for interlocked engagement with the bucket body.

5. In a -boltless slushing scraper wherein the principal elements are arranged in assembled relationship and thereby interlocked:

(a) a bucket body having a laterally extending inclined bottom with a forwardly disposed cutting edge therealong and having opposite sides extending vertically from the bottom, there being an openingthrough each side;

(b) a harness comprised of a pair of like bails and each hinged to a side of the bucket body by means of a post projecting inwardly and occupying the opening in the side, there being a tongue projecting rearwardly from the post to engage the inside of the bucket body;

(c) and means comprising a shoe interposed between the foremost ends of the bails and having rearwardly divergent channels to receive the foremost ends of the bails and bored to receive Wedge-shaped keys engaged with the bails respectievly so as to draw the formost ends of the bails together at a drag `line connection, thereby engaging the bails with said opposite sides and to engage the posts in the openings and to maintain the tongues inside the bucket body;

(d) said assembly being accomplished by insertion of the tongues laterally through the openings followed Iby forward swinging motion of the bails to bring them together for interlocked engagement with the bucket body.

y6. In a boltless slushing scraper: a forwardly open bucket body; said bucket body having opposed forwardly extending side members at the ends thereof; like openings in said side members, respectively; a pair of identical elongated curved bails having rear end tongue portions extending through said openings, respectively, with said tongue portions engaging the inside surfaces of said side members rearwardly of said openings; and connection means holding the forward ends of said bails in close relationship to each other to maintain said engagement of said rearmost portions with said inside surfaces.

7. In a boltless slushing scraper: a forwardly open bucket body; said bucket body having opposed forwardly extending side members at the ends thereof; like openings in said side members, respectively; a pair of identical elongated curved bails having rear end tongue portions extending through said openings, respectively, with the tongue portions engaging the inside surfaces of said side members rearwardly of said openings; and a shoe member closely receiving the forward ends of said bails in close relationship to each other to maintain said engagement of said rearmost portions with said inside surfaces; said shoe member having cable connecting means.

8. In a boltless slushing scraper: a forwardly open bucket body; said bucket body having opposed forwardly extending side members at the ends thereof; like openings in said side members, respectively; guide means extending forwardly along the outer surfaces of said side members from said openings, respectively; a pair of identical elongated curved bails having respective rear end portions closely received in said openings and extending therethrough to engage inner surfaces of said side members rearwardly of said openings, respectively; intermediate portions of said bails being closely received in said guide means, respectively; connection means holding the forward ends of said bails in close relationship to each other to maintain said engagement of said rear end portions with said surfaces and said intermediate portions' in said guide means, respectively.

9. In a boltless slushing scraper: a forwardly open bucket body; said bucket body having forwardly extending side members at the ends thereof; like openings in said side members, respectively; said openings having rearwardly faced shoulder portions, respectively; outwardly open channels extending forwardly along the outer surfaces of said side members from said shoulder portions, respectively; a pair of identical elongated curved bails having respective rearend portions closely received in said openings and extending therethrough to engage inner surfaces of said side members rearwardly of said openings, respectively; said end portions having forwardly facing post portions abuttingly engaged with said shoulder portions; intermediate portions of said bails being closely received in said guide means, respectively; conF nection means holding the forward ends of said bails in close relationship to each other to maintain said engagement of said rear end portions with said surfaces, respectively.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,958 1/1959 Allen 56-21 3,340,628 9/1967 Dobbie et al a- 37-147 FOREIGN PATENTS 535,762 1/1957 Canada.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner I. W. PETERSON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 37-135; 287-103 

